Laundry machines



Jan. 26, 1965 H. L. WINDMILLER LAUNDRY MACHINES Filed NOV. 9, 1962 f ff' 2 s I U11 I 1in l m/f, l n gg v E I? www! Il), 10 1",

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 @MMIII Q o INVENTOR /mvfr Mya/ware Y, 22ans il?.

ATTOR EYS Jan. 26, 1965 H. L. wlNDMlLLER 3,167,311

LAUNDRY MACHINES Filed Nov. 9, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR H9@ rrr k//fvM/u. 54

ATTORNE S United States Patent O 3,167,311 LAUNDRY MACHINES Harvey L. Windmiller, Moline, Ill., assignor to Ameteir, Inc., New York, NX., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 9, 1962, Ser. No. 236,573 3 Claims. (Cl. 271-68) This invention relates to laundry machines and particularly to an improved stacker for automatically stacking flatware having different lengths.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an automatic stacker for flatware that is fed from an ironing machine or other material handling machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an automatic stacker in which flatware of different lengths may be stacked with facility.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such an automatic stacker in which the leading end of the material is caused to drape on one side of a horizontal rack while the trailing end is caused to drape on the opposite rside thereof.

j lar'ately adjustable stacker mechanisms fed by conveyor belt means common to all lanes.

In one aspect of the invention, an automatic flatware stacker may comprise a frame that extends transversely across a plurality of lanes, each being fed by an ironing or other machine. 'Ihe frame may support spaced, parallel rolls that extend transversely across all of the lanes. The rolls may support endless conveyor belts, and belt t'ensioning devices may operate on the lower flight of the belts.

In another aspect of the invention, pivotally mounted finger means may be located at the end of the conveyor belt adjacent the exits of the ironing or other machines within each lane, the linger means being arranged so that in one pivotal position they cause the material passing from the corresponding ironer or other machine to be guided onto the stacker conveyor belt means, and in their other pivotal position they cause said` material to bypass said stacker conveyor belt means.

In still another aspect of the invention, a resiliently mounted horizontal rack bar may be located within each lane at the delivery end of the stacker conveyor belt means for drapingly receiving the fiatware.

Ina still further aspect of the invention, a pivotally mounted diverter may also be located at the delivery end of the stacker conveyor belt means in each lane and it may be arranged to automatically divert the path of travel of the flatware, after a predetermined linear amount falls on one side of the rack bar, to a position such that the remainder of said material drapes over said bar and falls on the opposite side thereof.

In another aspect of the invention, a solenoid-operated valve means may be employed for actuating the diverter and it may be controlled by a plurality of adjustable contacts located along the path of travel of the stacker conveyor belt means. The arrangement is such that a preselected circuit including one of said contacts or switches may be energized, and when that switch and one common to all other adjustable contacts for the belts of one lane are closed, the solenoid valve means is energized, causing the pivotally mounted diverter to be located in an ineffective ice position. The leading end of the material to be stacked closes the common switch and the selected of the adjustable switches, thereby moving the diverter to an ineffective position. However, when the trailing end of the material opens the selected -adjustable switch, the solenoid valve means is de-energized and the diverter pivots to its effective position where it diverts the path of travel of the trailing end of the material to the opposite side of the stacker rack.

The above, other objects and novel features of the in- Ventron will become apparent from the following drawings and specification which are merely exemplary.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an end elevational view of an automatic material stacker to which the principles of the invention have been applied;

FIG. 2 is a partial view showing a plurality of lanes in which separate stacker racks are shown;

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are schematic views of certain difierent positions of the pivotally mounted diverter;

FIG. 6 is a View similar to FIG. 3, showing the stacker rack loaded; and

FIG. 7 is a wiring diagram for the adjustable switches shown on the machine of FIG. l.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. l and 2, the principles of the invention are shown as applied to an automatic stacking machine including a base frame 10. The frame may extend for a substantial distance across a plurality of parallel lanes, at the beginning of each of which flatware may be delivered from ironing or other machines. End plates 11 (only one being shown) may include aligned bearings for supporting rolls 12 and 13 in spaced, parallel relation. Spaced endless conveyor belts 14 (a plurality for each lane) may surround the rolls 12 and 13 within each of the lanes. Accordingly, the rolls 12 and 13 comprise a common drive means for all belts in each lane.

A bracket 15 extending between end plates 11 may support belt tensioning devices 16 and 17, and suitable power means (not shown) may rotate roll 12 or 13. Also mounted on bracket 15 between the lanes may be arms 18 that are pivoted on pin means 19. A pin Ztl may extend between the arms 18 for each lane, and an air cylinder 21 operated by a suitable solenoid operated valve means 21A (FIG. 7) may be connected between pin 2t) and a pin 22 in bracket 15. The end of arms 18 opposite those connected by pin 20 may support finger means 24 that may extend across the entrance to the conveyor belts 14 of the corresponding lane. Adjustment means 25 and 26 on arms 18 may be used to preset the finger means 24 both elevationally and transversely. The linger means 24 may include reverse elements 27. The arrangement is such that when the solenoid valve means 21A (FIG. 7) for air cylinder 21 is energized, finger means 24 is in its lower solid line position and bridges the gap between conveyor belt means 28, leading from another processing machine such as an ironer or the like, and the conveyor belts 14 within the corresponding lane being serviced by belt 28. De-energizing solenoid valve means 21A permits arms 18 to move counterclockwise around the pivot 19, lifting linger means 24 to its upper dash line position. In this position, finger means 24 causes the material from belt 2S to bypass the belt 14, and reverse elements 27 direct the material away from the belt 14.

Referring again to FIG. l, a diverter 29 for each lane may be fixed to one end of an arm Si) that is pivotally mounted on a pin 31 in a bracket 32 fixed to a bracket 33 within frame 10. The opposite end of arm 30 may be pivoted to a link 34 that is connected to a rod 35 adapted to be reciprocated by an air cylinder 36 having a solenoid valve means 36A (FIG. 7). The

air kcylinder 36 mayV be mounted ,onra channel member 38 that extends between the walls 11;y Also supported by the channel member 3S may be a way 39 for each lane located over theV correspondingV belts` 14 thereof. i

The way 39 adjustably supports switches, or" which'ive are shown, i.e., 40, 41, 42, 43 and k44, having fingers 49',

41', 42', '43 and-44 that extend downwardly between spaces betweenV the belts 14 of the corresponding lane.

- an effective po-sition when theV trailing end of said article A sub-frame member'49 may be provided -with vertically aligned, horizontallyspaced-bearings(50 for slidably receiving verticalbars 51 spaced-apartan amount equivap k lent to the width of a lane.' A horizontal cross bar 52 may be fixed to thetops ofvv the bars 51, and springs 53 may surround bars 51 between the bottomv memberV 49 S2, it andba'rs 51 -move downwardly against theaction Y,

of spring 53 to maintain the top stacked layer at sub.- stantially the same elevation.

The switch 44 is a'master switch and remains in a xed position along way 39.- Switches 43, 42,41 and 40'` Y are preset along way 39 ,toa postionfsuch that thedisi- ,Y

tance between their iingers 43 42', 41', 40 yandiinger 44' of master switch 44 vis approximately half the length,VY of the article of flatware Ythat rides alongbelts 14and is to be stacked on bar 52,. For exam-ple, assume that Va piece of material twice as longas the Vdistance between fingers 44 and` 40 is fed onto belts 14. y Asy its leading l edge closes the lcontacts of switches 40 and 44, solenoid valve means 36A is energized,rmoving diverter 29 to its ineffective dotted line position, kcausing the'leading end of the material toy fall vertically' on the lefthand sideof again 'actuatessaid distance switch forjcausing said article to be draped over saidV rack means with substantially half thel lengthof said articlefoneach sidethereof.,v

2. In a iatwarearticlestacking apparatus, atbase frame having end walls; parallel spaced rolls journaled'in bearings in said end walls; Vendless'conveyor belt means en- Y circling saidtrolls, providing a receiving and a delivery end thereof; an article supporting rackmeans beneaththe de- Vlivery endjof said conveyor belt means;a way along said conveyor belt means; a iirst Iswitch in said way adjacent the delivery end of saidbelt means; a pluralityr of distance switches mounted inzsaid way, spaced various distancesfrom said iirst switch toward saidjreceiving end; means for selectingY one ,ofsaid distance switches; circuit means including said rst -switch'and a selected one of said distance switches; divertinglrneansat the delivery end `of said conveyor belt means; normally in a position to divert the patl 1 ofttravel of an article VVbeing delivered from said conveyor belt means;v means responsive tothe operation of said irst switch-, andV the selected one of said distance switches by the leading end of an article on said conveyor belt meansy as itrreaches said iirst switch for rvractuatingsaid circuit to move said diverting meansto an ineffective'position, and subsequently to an effective position/whenV the trailing end ofsaid article again actuates saidvdistauce switch for causing said article toA be draped over said rack means with substantially `half the length of the article ongeach side thereofgfpvotally mounted Aiinger meansY for leading articles onto said conveyor belt ,Y means; .and means for raising" and Vlowering said finger bar,52. When the trailing end ofthe piece of materialV effectsv opening ofthe ,contacts of switch 40soler`1oid valve means' 36Ais de-energized and the diverter 29 moves `toitsf solid line position,pdr'a'ping the remaining 'half of the material over bar 52 kso that it hangs on the right sidethereof. p l 'A Y,

'A selector switch`55 may' be Vmounted, on a panel 56 and it may be manually operated to selectively renderV electivelany one of switches 40,141,42 or 4?). Anfon'-y oli switch 57 may be provided for energizingthe Ypower i means that rotates the rolls 12 and 13, `This switch 57 v when closed also energiZes solenoid valve means 21A,"V

lowering finger means 24 into itsY solid line position, bridging the gap,` between conveyor 28 yand belts 14. Although the various features of the improved stacking machine have been described'. in detail to fully disclose one Y,

embodiment of the invention, it. will be evident thatA changes may be made in such details and certain fea'- What is claimed is: f.

1. In a flatware article stacking apparatus, a base frame.

having end walls; parallel spaced rolls journaled in bearmeansq'to cause articles to bypass said conveyor belt "means and to feed thereonto, respectively. f

` t 3.x In a flatware article stackingapparatus, va base'frame having end-,walls ,spacedapartgsutiiciently to include a plurality of separate'lanes therebetween; parallelfspaced rolls journaled in bearings in said Vend walls and extending vtransversely across vsaid plurality of lanes; endless .conveyor belt meansfiu each. lane vencirclingsaid rolls,

Y vproviding fa :receiving and' a delivery endthereof; separate article Vsupporting-rack means'beneath the delivery end .ofrthe conveyor ibeltmeansinveach lane; a-,way yalong the conveyor belt.means,in each ofsaid lanes; a irst switch in each kway adjacent the delivery end of said belt means; ay plurality of distance switches Vmounted'in each way, spaced various distances from saidY `first switch toward said receiving eend; means for .selecting one of said'distance switches;lcircuit lmeans including said riirst switch and ar selected one of said'dist'anceswitches; di-

' verting Vmeans at the delivery end of 'the conveyor belt ings in said end walls; endless conveyorfbelt means encirclingsaid rolls providing a receivingv and a delivery end` thereof; an article "supportingrack Ameans vbeneath` the delivery end ofvsaidxconveyor belt-means; away along s'aidconveyor belt'means; afrst switch in said way adjacent the delivery'end;k of said belt means; a plu- Yrality of distance switches mountedfin saidrw'ay, spaced l",

various distances from said iirst-switch'-toward said receiving end; means for selecting one of said Vdistance switches; circuit means including vsaid tirst switch andy av Vselected Vone'of said distance switches; diverting means at the delivery'end of said conveyor belt means, normally'v Y in a position to divert the path of travel of an'article be-Y ing delivered from said conveyor belt means; meansrevsponsive to the operation of said iirst switch and the seg lected one of said distance switches by the'leading end of an article on said conveyor belt means asit reaches said' l "meanskvofr each lane, saiddiverting means normally being in apposition .to divert r,the path .off travel vof an article being delivered Vfrom the conveyoribelt'means of a cor.-

Vresponding Vlane;` and separate means ineachlane responsive toV the operation offsaid first-switch and the selected distance switch by Fthe leading end of an article onthe conveyor belt means of a corresponding laneas it reaches said first switch means,for'actuatingfsaid circuit Yto movefits diverting-*means to an ineliective; position,

andV subsequently to an effective position'whenthe trailing end of said article again actuates said selecteddis- YReferences Citdin the -iilefof this'patent p UNITED STATES PATENTS r 2,884,244V 'Bowman' 'v ;1 Apr. 28, 1959 

1. IN A FLATWARE ARTICLE STACKING APPARATUS, A BASE FRAME HAVING END WALLS; PARALLEL SPACED ROLLS JOURNALED IN BEARINGS IN SAID END WALLS; ENDLESS CONVEYOR BELT MEANS ENCIRCLING SAID ROLLS, PROVIDING A RECEIVING AND A DELIVERY END THEREOF; AN ARTICLE SUPPORTING RACK MEANS BENEATH THE DELIVERY END OF SAID CONVEYOR BELT MEANS; A WAY ALONG SAID CONVEYOR BELT MEANS; A FIRST SWITCH IN SAID WAY ADJACENT THE DELIVERY END OF SAID BELT MEANS; A PLURALITY OF DISTANCE SWITCHES MOUNTED IN SAID WAY, SPACED VARIOUS DISTANCES FROM SAID FIRST SWITCH TOWARD SAID RECEIVING END; MEANS FOR SELECTING ONE OF SAID DISTANCE SWITCHES; CIRCUIT MEANS INCLUDING SAID FIRST SWITCH AND A SELECTED ONE OF SAID DISTANCE SWITCHES; DIVERTING MEANS AT THE DELIVERY END OF SAID CONVEYOR BELT MEANS, NORMALLY IN A POSITION TO DIVERT THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF AN ARTICLE BEING DELIVERED FROM SAID CONVEYOR BELT MEANS: MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE OPERATION OF SAID FIRST SWITCH AND THE SELECTED ONE OF SAID DISTANCE SWITCHES BY THE LEADING END OF AN ARTICLE ON SAID CONVEYOR BELT MEANS AS IT REACHES SAID FIRST SWITCH FOR ACTUATING SAID CIRCUIT TO MOVE SAID DIVERTING MEANS TO AN INEFFECTIVE POSITION, AND SUBSEQUENTLY TO AN EFFECTIVE POSITION WHEN THE TRAILING END OF SAID ARTICLE AGAIN ACTUATES SAID DISTANCE SWITCH FOR CAUSING SAID ARTICLE TO BE DRAPED OVER SAID RACK MEANS WITH SUBSTANTIALLY HALF THE LENGTH OF SAID ARTICLE ON EACH SIDE THEREOF. 